Through ways too complicated to explain here, I came upon this beast:
…so I took said beast off to the range a couple days back because of course I would.
This Ruger Redhawk is chambered, as in the title, to shoot the manly .45 Colt/Long Colt cartridge, and .45 ACP with the use of moon clips.
Here it is, with the S&W K-frame Mod 65 .357 Mag and minuscule J-frame Mod 637 .38 Spec, by comparison:
The Redhawk, as they say, is a handful — almost more than a handful even in my paw.
“So how does it shoot, Kim?”
Well, it has the typical Ruger trigger: very stiff (but smooooth) double action (maybe 15lbs), and a slightly gritty single-action pull of about 3-4lbs, best as I can guess. I see LOTS of dry-firing ahead, or maybe a trigger job is in its future.
As for recoil: .45 Colt 250gr ammo beats the shit out of my creaking wrists, and the lighter 200gr only a tad less. Were I to press it into bedside duty (to replace the Mod 65), I’d load it with the 200gr boolets. However: using my standard Norma 175gr .45 ACP rounds (what I load in my 1911) in the moon clips, it is an absolute joy to shoot, for so big a revolver.
Accuracy is about what I can shoot, i.e. not bad for a first time: 2″ groups at 30 feet, with the occasional flyer. (I’ve shot the equivalent S&W Mod 625, but over twenty years ago and I can’t remember it well enough to make a comparison.) Also, that 4″ barrel does have its limitations; a 6″ barrel would be better, but man that would make it even bigger and heavier.
Which brings me back to the Redhawk’s size. It is seriously big, and almost too big for me; but that weight does help soak up recoil, oh yes it does.
Ordinarily, I’d be a little torn about keeping a gun that (for me) is a little marginal, what with its size, recoil and stiff trigger. Any one of those is usually cause for a swap meet; all three? Hmmmm.
And yet: there is something about holding in your hand a gun that is indestructible, and that will handle anything you can load into it with consummate ease and reliability. Because if ever I venture into wild country with big bad toothy animules that want to eat me or worse, I would load up some Buffalo Bore monster +P 300gr loads, and feel very adequately well-armed, with a gun that just will not break under the stress thereof.
That is a Ruger Redhawk, and that is why I’m going to keep it.
A quick word about the new range. Since I moved away from Plano, my old stamping ground at the Mission Creek range proved to be just too far for a weekly trip.
However: allow me to introduce y’ll to Texas Legends in Allen TX. Lovely new range, it is, staffed by silver-haired old farts who are pleasant and only too willing to sit and chew the fat awhile. And they’re not fussy about what guns and what ammo you shoot (CCI Blazer and its ilk is verboten only because the aluminum casings are non-magnetic and difficult to pick up.) No 100-yard range, but a 3-bay 50-yard rifle-only range is just fine for my needs.
And if you get there between 10am and 1pm during the week, there’s a 50% Old Fart discount. I spent less than $15 with a target. This is going to cost me a ton from now on, not in range fees but in ammo.
Starting tomorrow.
Hey, it’s a shitty life, but someone has to live it.
Nice gun. “Also, that 4″ barrel does have its limitations” If you think that’s fun, I invite you to try the Alaskan in .44 Magnum with a 2.5″ barrel. It’s just a Redhawk with a fancy name and I got one a couple years back. Loaded with some 250gr Buffalo Bore solids, it’s quite a manly handful. As with yours and .45ACP, with .44 specials it’s practically docile. As a Redhawk, it’s solid and probably indestructible, plus you can brain someone with it as a last resort.
The first time I took it to my local range and shot a round or two (huge noise and fireball), the RSO tapped me on the shoulder, “Excuse me, sir, but will you take that thing across the hall to our rifle range, please.” He didn’t say “you’re scaring the others”, but that’s what I thought to myself. Big fun.
“…brain someone…”
Shares a trait with those Smith X-frames.
I think the Super RedHawk is far superior to the X frame Smith and Wesson revolvers.
No side plates. No internal lock (Hillary hole).
Warranty with Ruger is easy they are actually helpful Smith and Wesson warranty and customer service is a nightmare.
Also 500 smith and Wesson and 460 round is all the extra you get with the Smith X frame revolvers. Those are really niche market rounds.
With Super RedHawk, other than 480 Ruger the other rounds are made in many other brands guns – 10MM, 45 Colt, 454 Casull, 44 Mag, and even an 8 shot 357
Me I prefer Ruger. But to each their own. YMMV
A 2.5 inch .44 is a handful for sure. A 2.5 inch .454 is even more so…
But, you can shoot .45 Colt all day long in it, from mousefart to Ruger Only barn burner loads that equals the .44, and still be nowhere near what the gun can handle.
An Alaskan .454 on a cartridge belt happens to be my woods revolver. The loads are… Spicy, but nowhere near .454 level, as I don’t get into grizzly country.
But I hate to think of what your RSO would think of it, especially with the truly hot ammo.
VERY nice! And no mistaking it for anything but a Ruger. 🙂
I have a 625 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt, as well as a Blackhawk Convertible. Old timer ‘splained to me that a 250gr LSWC at 900 fps MV will transect a mule deer linearly, so it’ll probably be sufficient for social work. Good choice!
While I’m not a huge fan of Smith and Wesson I prefer ruger some of Smiths revolvers are nice.
The 625 is a great gun. They had the mountain gun and they had a Jerry Miculek version of the 625 as well. I don’t think those versions are made new anymore. Hang on to those editions.
I still prefer the RedHawk but if you have a 625 take care of it. It will be worth $$$.
Thank you for sharing this. That is a very nice gun. Please keep that gun. If you do sell it, please post on this blog and if I have cash when you post it I would be interested if I have funds available between bills.
The Ruger GP100 4 in stainless 357 is my absolute favorite revolver ever. Ruger revolvers are my favorite revolvers.
I’ve always wanted something big bore in a Ruger. The Alaskan 454 or 44 Mag 2.5 in stainless, the GP100 10MM and the 45 Colt RedHawk that you just got a hold of all peak my interest. I would really enjoy having one.
On the trigger the GP100 I have was not bad maybe a little stiff when I got it 10 or more years ago. Between ammo put through and also dry fire it smoothed out nicely.
If you do want to get a trigger job, before you spend tons of money at a gunsmith check out Wolff springs.
I do not have these in my GP100 as I was happy with how the trigger smoothed up over time but I have tried revolvers with Wolff springs in them.
The RedHawk and all Ruger revolvers are easy to change the main spring on. It is a coil spring under the grip which is unlike Smith and Wesson full size and mid size revolvers. S&W uses a leaf spring in most all revolvers except for the J frames which use coil springs.
So be sure to put on a pair of safety glasses if you work on the innards.
I am sure you are diligent but saying it, Just be sure to test the revolver after you re spring it so you are sure you don’t get light strikes.
https://www.gunsprings.com/RUGER/REDHAWK/cID3/mID52/dID231
Wolff springs also has 1911 springs too if you ever need any for your 1911.
Ammo is harder to finder in the 45 Colt variety and what is available can be a little spendy but 45 ACP while also a little spending is plentiful and this gun can shoot 45 ACP with moon clips. And with a big heavy gun like that the 45 ACP or 45 Colt will have very mild to moderate recoil. The only way you will feel recoil is with the +P ammo you mentioned. This revolver is great because you have options for ammo from mild to wild.
I know everyone goes Gaga over Buffalo Bore ammo and that is decent ammo however check out Underwood ammo for boutique ammo. Not something most can afford every day to use but Underwood I think is one of the best boutique ammo options.
Anyways, that is a damn nice gun. MSRP on that is 1399 according to the Ruger website. Model 5050. Those used to be under $1,000 but these days a nice machined piece of steel made into a revolver ain’t cheap.
That’s a keeper. Don’t sell it. But if you do post here and let a reader make an offer.
Can us readers ask, did you get a good deal cash? Trade? How did you come upon this awesome gun?
Oh wow! I LOVE my Rugers. I have my dad’s old Security Six (blued, of course) with Pachmayr grips. Would be fun to find some original wood grips, but I love that gun. I also have a French railway police surplus 3” SP101 in .38 spl. only, it actually has a shorter barrel and won’t shoot .357, but with the Manhurin grips, it is, perhaps, my favorite revolver to shoot. I feel with good +P fodder it’s perfectly adequate as a defensive pistol.
I have the GP100 4” which is a joy to shoot .357 out of, and I got the SP101 snub in .357 just because, and that is not so much fun to shoot .357 out of, but it’s better than any other .357 snub simply due to the weight.
It feel good to shoot something you know your great grandkids will be shooting a hundre years from now, they are beasts. And the triggers are easy to work on. I know I’m more of a tinkerer than you are, but I did a trigger job on the GP100 and both SP101s, and they are superb. Getting the shims in is a bit fiddly, but I’ve always been a tinkerer and they all shoot great.
Have a trigger job done for you, and maybe have some local friends load up some .45 for you to save a little lettuce, and you’ll be shooting that thing all the time, I’d wager.
I just noticed in the pic the front sight a fiber optic site. Nice. I have one on the GP100
Easy to change sights on GP100 and RedHawk. There is a hole in the front of the barrel on top of the barrel on most Rugers. push that with a pin punch it is spring tensioned. The sight then pops out and in and in and out, while you hold the button with the punch.
And if you hate the fiber. Easily changed on most Ruger revolvers. Only a few models of the GP100 (match champion in 357 with fiber) and the lcr have the dovetail sights which are still somewhat easy to change with a punch and a hammer or a sight pusher. Some RedHawks are dovetailed as well but again easy change as well
I have hi viz brand fiber sights. You can get extra fiber rods for cheap if you want a different color. I have green in my sight now. But I have extra green rods and red rods.
I prefer fiber to night sights. Cheaper. Easy to repair if the rod falls out of the sight. And night sights all eventually stop glowing bright at some point. Takes a while but they do wear out. Fiber does not wear out brightness wise. If there is light the fiber will glow.
The RedHawk 45 is a damn nice revolver and one that is great for any aged or condition user – older people with Arthur- itis or other limitations will have an easy time loading and using the gun, not much recoil and simple to operate. Inexperienced users will pick up how to use this easily.
This new gun you picked up might be the ultimate gun for anything but concealed carry which your J frame already does. So 2 guns can do most anything for you.
I have multiple single actions in the grand old .45LC and I handload, so ammo costs are kept under control. I’ve been wanting a double action in the same caliber and the Ruger is definitely top of my list. I’d want the longer barrel, but as with all things used you may not always get exactly what you want. I’d definitely take the above model at the right price.
4 inch is one of the most popular barrel lengths of revolvers. 3 inch is a close 2nd.
4 inch gives plenty of velocity out of most rounds. Makes the revolver feel weighted well in the hand (not nose heavy compared to 6 inch and longer) and it looks great aesthetically.
If you want a longer than 4 inch barrel why not get a companion rifle in the same caliber, like a lever gun?
I know Kim and others like the 6 inch stuff but when I was in the biz 4 inch revolvers sold the most.
YMMV
If I was picking a more modest sized revolver in .357/.38 for any sort of carry purpose, I would do exactly as you suggested, most likely in 3″ (and I’m dying to get my hands on a Colt Viper in 3″). However, if I’m going with a BIG HONKING .45LC REVOLVER, I might as well get the long barreled version while I’m at it. That way I won’t have to trim my shrubbery to make my deck look bigger. Or something to that effect.
Wait a minute: “(CCI Blazer and its ilk is verboten only because the aluminum casings are non-magnetic and difficult to pick up.)”? No, aluminum isn’t magnetic but neither is brass so how can that be a valid reason to prohibit aluminum cased ammo?
So many myths in the gun industry biz. I used to work in the industry and some people’s myths that are spread are so cringe. But hey. The old farts at the range are usually like minded with politics, they are polite and friendly and it is a place to get away from the assholes of the world.
One bullshit myth I always laughed and cringed at was the whole – I won’t use a 44 mag or a 357, 12 gauge or a 10MM round for home defense because it will go through drywall and 2X4 and hurt someone else I don’t want to hurt and may even go right through the bad guy into someone innocent too.
Uh huh. Like 9MM , 40 or 45 doesn’t go through drywall? Or 2X4?
What are ya gonna do.
Also love the whole 22 LR ain’t shit crowd. While 22 is not and will never be the first choice for home defense – my favorite rifle ever is the Ruger 10 22. And I will say this – if some asshole high on rage and or drugs wants to break into my house and ass fuck me and kill me – even 10 rounds of 22 peppered to the face will remove a lot of fight even from the biggest monsters. But hey. 22 ain’t shit. Right?
Also – there are rollers available with rubber that roll over range floors that pick up cases. Brass, steel aluminum. Doesn’t matter. There is a dust pan like attachment on the back. Picks them up and pops them in. Also if you don’t want that fancy thing an old fashioned broom and a dust pan works wonders too. I used both methods when I managed a range years ago.
Maybe they mean that they can’t use a magnet to separate the aluminum from the brass and that makes it harder to make money back off the brass they pick up?
That.
The range I ran never used magnets. Is brass even magnetic? Is there other metal mixed with it to make it attract to a magnet?
The ranges I am a member of now are outdoor with a pavilion overhead. I can’t afford the fancy indoor ranges around me. You have to pick up after yourself at the outdoor ranges or you risk being kicked out of the club. I used a dustpan and a little handheld broom for my brass pickups and since I don’t reload myself I stick the brass in a donation bucket for those that do reload.
I wonder how much the range makes reselling used brass?
Google says $2.30 per pound for fired brass. A second google search indicates roughly 100 9mm fired rounds will equal ~1 lb brass.
Obviously the brass would be worth more to a reloader than the scrap yard, but you have to account for the fact that some of the brass isn’t suitable for reloading (old, split cases, etc.).
You can buy once-fired 9 mm brass (sorted but not cleaned) for ~$3.20 per pound plus shipping from one source I found.
It may not work out to a lot of money, but if you don’t recycle then you have to pay to dispose of it, so there’s that. I would imagine most indoor ranges would have to recycle to stay competitive.
As I said to a friend once, I am eagerly awaiting the day the physicists invent a Brass-only magnet.
Me looking at the SP101 Wiley Clapp model as a pocket carry/kit gun for snakes out here in AZ.
Many years ago I had a Pietta Great Western in 45 Colt. It was a single action and I got good groups out of it. It would occasionally have a timing lockup so I used it as a trade-in for a 92AF INOX in 88. I still have the INOX.
I used to get my brass from a GA State Patrol guy that was in my Air Guard unit. The range official would use a blower to push all the brass into a trench in between the firing stations. A flat bottomed shovel scooped all the brass into a 5 gallon bucket. I would get a bucket once a year. It was mostly 5.56, 9mm, and 45GAP. But 308,10mm, 40, 45ACP, 357, and 44/44mag would also be mixed in. I do have about 200 454 Casull that is taking up space on one of my brass shelves.
FYI – the Ruger website has a Talo Exclusive Super Redhawk in .454 w/a 5″ barrel…